INFO ON THE STATE ______________________________________ STRATHCLYDE Realm of Strathclyde ______________________________________ POPULATION - 8 (as at 30 June 05)(*2,435,104) CAPITAL - Dumbarton MAJOR CITY - Glasgow, 2 (*612,000) CURRENCY - Pound sterling (£) of 100 pence NATIONAL ANTHEM - Auld Lang Syne NATIONAL DAY - Independence Day, 20 August NATIONAL FLAG - A red diagonal cross on a yellow ground * indicates macronational population as at 2002 Strathclyde consists of the territory of the late Strathclyde region as determined by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. In terms of legal jurisdictions, Strathclyde consists of the sheriffdoms of North Strathclyde, of Glasgow and Strathkelvin, and of South Strathclyde. Strathclyde is bounded on the southern, eastern and northern borders by the United Kingdom, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. HISTORY AND POLITICS The Picts, believed to be of non-Aryan origin, seem to have inhabited the whole of northern Britain and to have spread over the north of Ireland. Remains are most frequent in Caithness and Sutherland, and the Orkney Isles, Scotland. THE ROMAN INVASION In 79-80CE, Julius Agricola extended the Roman conquests of Britain by advancing into Caledonia and building a line of fortifications across the isthmus between the Forth and the Clyde, but after a victory at Mons Graupius he was recalled. Hadrian's Wall in England, mostly complete by 130CE, marked the frontier until about 143CE when the frontier moved north to the Forth-Clyde isthmus and was secured by the Antonine Wall. From about 155CE, the Antonine Wall was damaged by frequent attacks and by the end of the second century the northern limit of Roman Britain had receded to Hadrian's Wall. THE SCOTS After the withdrawal or absorption of the Roman garrison of Britain, there were many years of tribal warfare between the Picts and the Scots (the Gaelic tribe then dominant in Ireland), the Brythonic Waelisc (Welsh) of Strathclyde (south-west Scotland and Cumberland in England), and the Anglo-Saxons of Lothian. The Waelisc were isolated from their kinsmen in Wales by the victory of the West Saxons at Chester (613), and towards the close of the ninth century the Scots under Kenneth MacAlpin became the dominant power in Caledonia. In the reign of Malcom I (943-954), Strathclyde was brought into subjection (by the placing of Malcom's grandson on the Strathclyde throne), the English lowland kingdom (Lothian) being conquered by Malcolm II (1005-1034). From the late 11th Century until the end of the mid-16th Century, there were constant wars between England and Scotland, the outstanding figures in the struggle being William Wallace, who defeated the English at Stirling Bridge (1297) and Robert Bruce, who won the Battle of Bannockburn (1314). James IV and many of his nobles fell at the disastrous Battle of Flodden (1513). THE BRITISH In the 18th Century, there were numerous Jacobite rebellions seeking the restoration of the Royal House of Stuart to the British throne under the leadership of the Italian, Charles Edward Stuart. He aimed at deposing King George I and King George II, both occupying the throne by consent of Parliament. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth I of England, James VI of Scotland succeeded to the English throne as James I of England in 1603; a Treaty of Union between England and Scotland was agreed by the Scottish and English Parliaments [1], and an Act of Union was proclaimed in 1707, under which the seat of Scottish government was transferred to London. With the conquest of Wales by England by 1300 and the Principality's political union with England in 1535, and the re-establishment of English control over Ireland with King Henry VIII of England being proclaimed King of Ireland at Dublin in 1541 and a political union of Ireland with England in 1801, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was created in 1801. In December 1922, Ireland was partitioned and the Irish Free State remained a monarchy until 1949, when it became a republic. Northern Ireland remained and remains part of the United Kingdom. Referenda held in Scotland and in Wales in September 1997 produced majorities in favour of devolution. The first elections to the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly took place in May 1999. The Scottish Parliament was formally opened by The Queen of the United Kingdom on 1 July 1999 and the second elections for the Parliament are due on 1 May 2003. POLITICAL SYSTEM The 2006 constitution declares that Strathclyde has three branches of government. The King is elected for life. He is advised by the Council of State, composed of the members of the Government. The National Parliament is composed of members chosen by proportional representation every year. Parliamentary power to make criminal law is severely limited under constitutional law. Executive power is vested in the Prime Minister subject to the constitution; he advises His Majesty The King in all matters except the reserve powers. HEAD OF STATE HM The King of Strathclyde, Mark McCabe, born at Paisley (Scotland), 30 May 1980, elected 14 June 2004, sworn in 15 June 2004 OFFICERS OF STATE as at June 2005 Attorney General, HIM the Viking Emperor of Stormark Human Rights Commissioner, Mr Zachary Klaas, Lord Strathaven National Ombudsman, vacant _________________________________________________ [1] It should be noted that the Treaty of Union 1707 was passed by the Parliament of Scotland without the consent of the Scottish People. Under Scots constitutional law in 1707, sovereignty did not reside in Parliament (as it did and does in England), but resided with the Scottish People; by signing the Treaty, the Parliament was signing away to England a sovereignty it did not possess. The passing of the Treaty caused riots and almost caused civil war in Scotland to the extent that the new British Government ordered troops into Scotland from the south of England to stamp out any civil war. _________________________________________________ SOURCE: "Whitaker's Almanack 1997" (London: J Whitaker & Sons Ltd, 1996) |
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INFO ON THE STATE ______________________________________ STRATHCLYDE Realm of Strathclyde ______________________________________ POPULATION - 8 (as at 30 June 05)(*2,435,104) CAPITAL - Dumbarton MAJOR CITY - Glasgow, 2 (*612,000) CURRENCY - Pound sterling (£) of 100 pence NATIONAL ANTHEM - Auld Lang Syne NATIONAL DAY - Independence Day, 20 August NATIONAL FLAG - A red diagonal cross on a yellow ground * indicates macronational population as at 2002 Strathclyde consists of the territory of the late Strathclyde region as determined by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. In terms of legal jurisdictions, Strathclyde consists of the sheriffdoms of North Strathclyde, of Glasgow and Strathkelvin, and of South Strathclyde. Strathclyde is bounded on the southern, eastern and northern borders by the United Kingdom, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. HISTORY AND POLITICS The Picts, believed to be of non-Aryan origin, seem to have inhabited the whole of northern Britain and to have spread over the north of Ireland. Remains are most frequent in Caithness and Sutherland, and the Orkney Isles, Scotland. THE ROMAN INVASION In 79-80CE, Julius Agricola extended the Roman conquests of Britain by advancing into Caledonia and building a line of fortifications across the isthmus between the Forth and the Clyde, but after a victory at Mons Graupius he was recalled. Hadrian's Wall in England, mostly complete by 130CE, marked the frontier until about 143CE when the frontier moved north to the Forth-Clyde isthmus and was secured by the Antonine Wall. From about 155CE, the Antonine Wall was damaged by frequent attacks and by the end of the second century the northern limit of Roman Britain had receded to Hadrian's Wall. THE SCOTS After the withdrawal or absorption of the Roman garrison of Britain, there were many years of tribal warfare between the Picts and the Scots (the Gaelic tribe then dominant in Ireland), the Brythonic Waelisc (Welsh) of Strathclyde (south-west Scotland and Cumberland in England), and the Anglo-Saxons of Lothian. The Waelisc were isolated from their kinsmen in Wales by the victory of the West Saxons at Chester (613), and towards the close of the ninth century the Scots under Kenneth MacAlpin became the dominant power in Caledonia. In the reign of Malcom I (943-954), Strathclyde was brought into subjection (by the placing of Malcom's grandson on the Strathclyde throne), the English lowland kingdom (Lothian) being conquered by Malcolm II (1005-1034). From the late 11th Century until the end of the mid-16th Century, there were constant wars between England and Scotland, the outstanding figures in the struggle being William Wallace, who defeated the English at Stirling Bridge (1297) and Robert Bruce, who won the Battle of Bannockburn (1314). James IV and many of his nobles fell at the disastrous Battle of Flodden (1513). THE BRITISH In the 18th Century, there were numerous Jacobite rebellions seeking the restoration of the Royal House of Stuart to the British throne under the leadership of the Italian, Charles Edward Stuart. He aimed at deposing King George I and King George II, both occupying the throne by consent of Parliament. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth I of England, James VI of Scotland succeeded to the English throne as James I of England in 1603; a Treaty of Union between England and Scotland was agreed by the Scottish and English Parliaments [1], and an Act of Union was proclaimed in 1707, under which the seat of Scottish government was transferred to London. With the conquest of Wales by England by 1300 and the Principality's political union with England in 1535, and the re-establishment of English control over Ireland with King Henry VIII of England being proclaimed King of Ireland at Dublin in 1541 and a political union of Ireland with England in 1801, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was created in 1801. In December 1922, Ireland was partitioned and the Irish Free State remained a monarchy until 1949, when it became a republic. Northern Ireland remained and remains part of the United Kingdom. Referenda held in Scotland and in Wales in September 1997 produced majorities in favour of devolution. The first elections to the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly took place in May 1999. The Scottish Parliament was formally opened by The Queen of the United Kingdom on 1 July 1999 and the second elections for the Parliament are due on 1 May 2003. POLITICAL SYSTEM The 2006 constitution declares that Strathclyde has three branches of government. The King is elected for life. He is advised by the Council of State, composed of the members of the Government. The National Parliament is composed of members chosen by proportional representation every year. Parliamentary power to make criminal law is severely limited under constitutional law. Executive power is vested in the Prime Minister subject to the constitution; he advises His Majesty The King in all matters except the reserve powers. HEAD OF STATE HM The King of Strathclyde, Mark McCabe, born at Paisley (Scotland), 30 May 1980, elected 14 June 2004, sworn in 15 June 2004 OFFICERS OF STATE as at June 2005 Attorney General, HIM the Viking Emperor of Stormark Human Rights Commissioner, Mr Zachary Klaas, Lord Strathaven National Ombudsman, vacant _________________________________________________ [1] It should be noted that the Treaty of Union 1707 was passed by the Parliament of Scotland without the consent of the Scottish People. Under Scots constitutional law in 1707, sovereignty did not reside in Parliament (as it did and does in England), but resided with the Scottish People; by signing the Treaty, the Parliament was signing away to England a sovereignty it did not possess. The passing of the Treaty caused riots and almost caused civil war in Scotland to the extent that the new British Government ordered troops into Scotland from the south of England to stamp out any civil war. _________________________________________________ SOURCE: "Whitaker's Almanack 1997" (London: J Whitaker & Sons Ltd, 1996) |
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